Hello everybody. I'm pretty new here, but I've been browsing awhile. Anyway, to introduce myself, last year I bought a shiny 1988 pickup with 255k miles roughly (and the myriad of minor problems that come along with that). This truck was my first manual, first 4x4, first truck and first anything that isn't a Honda accord or mostly broken motorcycle. I spent the following year busy as heck working in a group home and not really saving any money for the trip, but now I've finally quit and we (me, the lady, and the truck) hit the road.

this is backlogged a bit but so far our journey has looked like this:

We left bellingham w around four pm after I finished a double overnight shift at work, and we made it a wayys into the Cascades. Nearly didn't find a camping spot but a kind older fellow moved his rig over for us to have a little spot. It was a great little area in the bend of a river but hopefully this marks the end of campground camping.

The next day we started by heading to Okanogan, where I found myself a camper shell for $400. Doesn't quite fit perfect but it's a waterproof place to sleep and doesn't break the bank like the ~$2000 I had hoped to spend on a new one. After a quick stop in omak at the doctor (ear infection, poor misses) we kept on the road and eventually made camp in am empty canyon near coulee dam. Beautiful spot.

Leaving there the following day, we drove quick across Washington with a stop in Spokane to look and camp gear. Kept on the road and into Idaho, eventually stopping at Mccroskey state park, all by oursellves on top of a beautiful ridge. Aside from some 4x4 action, uneventful.

On we went, south towards Boise taking the small roads as always. Near riggens Idaho we took a left straight up the mountain. Roughly ten miles of very rough logging road we found a spot to sleep on top of the mountain. Best spot yet, and we were visited by a herd of maybe 50 or so elk. Only problem here was that upon leaving we realized we had dropped a set of keys at the top and had to drive all the way back up.. two hours later we found them under the seat..

On the continuing theme of that days absentmindedness we headed for Boise without the oil cap and arrived to find a very messy engine. Man I'm a ˟˟˟˟ing idiot. Hope all is working well still, we are staying with relatives a few days here so I'll be working. I guess it's motivation to clean the engine bay at least. Also looking to chase down a coolant leak before we leave. Hoping it's just a bad radiator cap.

Anyway I'll be updating this as we keep going I hope. We are headed slowly to my folks place in Minnesota to use the woodshop and trick this camper out. I'd love to hear insights about engines, road trips, and where to camp (or more importantly, where to eat!)

Thanks all, here she is the day I bought her